Late Cenozoic Clockwise Rotations in the Westernmost Part of the Arcuate Qiulitage Fold‐and‐Thrust Belt of Southern Tian Shan Foreland and Its Tectonic Implications

A study of the Western Tien-Shan reveals that the region has experienced approximately 20° of clockwise rotation since around 5 million years ago, primarily due to oroclinal bending—the process where a straight fold-and-thrust belt bends into an arc. This deformation is linked to the formation of the curved Qiulitage Fold-and-Thrust Belt (FTB) in the southern Tian Shan foreland, suggesting significant tectonic activity and crustal shortening in this area during the late Cenozoic era. The research combines paleomagnetic data with geological analysis to demonstrate that these rotations are driven by the bending of the FTB, rather than other tectonic processes. Additionally, the Kalayuergun dextral strike-slip transfer fault plays a key role in accommodating horizontal displacement discrepancies along the western boundary of the Qiulitage FTB. The findings indicate that the southern Tian Shan foreland has undergone substantial deformation over the past 5 million years, with ongoing crustal shortening.

Zhang, Z., Sun, J., Lü, L., Tian, S., Cao, M., Su, B., Li, J., & Li, Y. (2019). Late Cenozoic Clockwise Rotations in the Westernmost Part of the Arcuate Qiulitage Fold‐and‐Thrust Belt of Southern Tian Shan Foreland and Its Tectonic Implications. Tectonics, 38(6), 2036–2058. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018tc005172